The above (amazing) image was uploaded to Reddit by someone who knew the captain of the Qatar Airways flight.

Saudi Prince had done his research on airline’s excess baggage policies. In economy class of Qatar Airways you can only have a maximum of six of your beloved birds of prey in the cabin

“You are permitted to carry one falcon on board the Economy Class passenger cabin of an aircraft, and a maximum of six falcons are permitted within the Economy Class cabin of an aircraft (country regulations may apply).”

Transporting falcons in the Middle East is a pretty common practice. Falconry — training birds to hunt — has been practiced in the Middle East for thousands of years and is still a popular pastime in the UAE.

The falcon is also the national bird of the UAE, so it makes sense that airlines flying out of there would accommodate the birds’ transit needs.

An Atlas Obscura article says falcons can get their own passports from the UAE to travel. The passport allows a falcon to travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Morocco, and Syria.